Govt to Investigate Freeport Incident: Mineral Resource Minister

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian government will conduct investigation into the collapse of an underground training facility at a US-owned PT Freeport Indonesia mine in Papua soon after evacuation process is finished, Jero Wacik said. "Yes, we will audit the mine's safety system. Now mining inspectors have already been there but their main task now is evacuating the victims. All of the victims must be evacuated. It is believed no survivor will be found. We will take care of it first. That is number one priority although investigation is continuing," Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said at the presidential palace here on Tuesday. He said besides sending inspectors he would also summon PT Freeport leadership to ask for explanation about the incident and assure that the rights of the victims are met. "It would be done immediately. Perhaps it will be done today or tomorrow. I have already summoned them. I side with the workers. Certainly the huge company must be held responsible and I have seen it has shown responsibility but I still expect more from it," he said. Wacik said he immediately sent three mining inspectors followed later by the director general of mining and mineral resources immediately after the incident happened. "Upon returning I heard their reports and it was found that the incident was not like the one that happened in Chili several years ago. In Chili the workers are trapped while in Freeport the tunnel caved in and they are buried," he said. "To evacuate the victims drilling equipment is needed because the access is blocked by rocks. I have seen the picture. So, when drilling is done rocks fell. It is very dangerous and so it must be done carefully," he said. He said seven bodies were able to be evacuated on Tuesday and so seven other bodies were left. He said the National Search and Rescue team predicted they could all be evacuated by Wednesday or Thursday. The minister denied that PT Freeport had not been open with regard to the evacuation process. (*)